North Battleford’s fire chief, Lindsay Holm, has issued a statement about the fire Thursday in North Battleford that claimed three lives.
The fire department was dispatched at 2:26 p.m. to the 1400 block of 99th Street, states a release issued late Friday afternoon.
Upon arrival, firefighters found a light smoke condition exiting from the rear of the structure, stated the release. The first arriving engine crew made entry into the structure. Three people were located at the residence. All three of the victims, a mother and her two children, were deceased.
Holm stated the RCMP Major Crimes Unit is leading the investigation and that, with respect to the ongoing investigation, the fire department will not be commenting further on the issue.
RCMP say the investigation into the house fire is now a sudden death investigation. The three deceased individuals were a 39-year-old female, a seven-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy. The deceased adult female was the mother of the two deceased children. In addition to confirming the identities of the deceased, RCMP say investigators have notified family members of the deaths.
Investigators are also working to determine the events leading up to the report of the fire and specialized, highly-trained investigators have deployed to North Battleford to assist with the investigation, including officers from the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit. Investigators will be looking at all circumstances surrounding these three deaths, this includes whether the deaths are suspicious in nature. Autopsies will be held at a date yet to be determined.
Anyone with information relating to the incident is asked to contact Battlefords RCMP at 306-446-1720. Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitting a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
